Ervinas Gaidamauskas: Metalloproteinase PAPP-A: proteolytic activity and structural organization
PhD defence, Friday 27 September 2013, MSc Ervinas Gaidamauskas.
During his studies, Ervinas Gaidamauskas researched the proteins pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and its homolog PAPP-A2 in vitro. As suggested by its name, PAPP-A plays an important role in pregnancy and fetal development. Additionally, recent studies indicate a newly recognized role for PAPP-A in aging and in the development of age-related disease. PAPP-A is a secreted metalloproteinase which cleaves insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs). Ervinas Gaidamauskas studied the mechanism of IGF modulated proteolysis of IGFBPs by PAPP-A and the structural determinants for cleavage. Moreover, intermodular structural organization of PAPP-A C-terminal domain, involved in substrate binding, was analyzed by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS).
Detailed knowledge of interactions between PAPP-A and its substrates is required to understand the modulatory role of PAPP-A on IGF receptor stimulation.
The PhD degree was completed at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Science and Technology, Aarhus University.
Time: Friday 27 September 2013 at 13.00
Place: Building 3120-A (Meeting room A), Aarhus University
Title of dissertation: Regulation of IGF binding protein proteolysis by pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A
Contact information: Ervinas Gaidamauskas, e-mail: erg@mb.au.dk, tel.: +370 60106757
Members of the assessment committee:
Associate professor Søren Hansen, Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, University of Southern Denmark
Professor Nicole Thielens, Institute of Structural Biology, Université Jeoseph Fourier, Grenoble, France
Associate professor Ernst-Martin Füchtbauer (chair), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Main supervisor:
Professor Claus Oxvig, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English.
The defence is public.
The dissertation is available for reading at the Graduate School of Science and Technology/GSST, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, room 112, 8000 Aarhus C.